Shafer names Acosta tight ends coach

Syracuse football coach Scott Shafer's staff is complete with the addition of Bobby Acosta, who will direct the Orange tight ends. The head coach at Widener University in 2013, Acosta boasts 15 years of experience in the profession. Shafer also announced that offensive coordinator and associate head coach George McDonald will coach the wide receivers.

"I am so excited to be part of the Syracuse football family and the amazing tradition of Orange football," Acosta said. "Coach Shafer is a dynamic person, coach and mentor. His program has a family atmosphere where the student-athletes are loved. When you have that, it leads to success."

A native of Queens, N.Y., Acosta moved to New Jersey at an early age. His coaching resume includes five years as the offensive coordinator at The College of New Jersey (2008-12), where he also mentored the receivers and tight ends, and two years as the tight ends coach at the University of Delaware.

"Bobby is an extremely intelligent coach who understands east coast football and recruiting," Shafer said. "He has done an exemplary job developing a relationship with the coaches in New Jersey throughout his career. We welcome Bobby and Alicia to the Syracuse family."

At Widener, Acosta mentored 11 All-Middle Atlantic Conference selections, including All-American receiver Anthony Davis, who set the school record for receptions, and quarterback Seth Klein who set MAC single-season and single-game records for completions.

During his tenure at the College of New Jersey, Acosta was responsible for molding one of the area's top offenses, served as the team's academic advisor, was its strength and conditioning coach and oversaw video editing. In 2011, the Lions averaged 362.2 yards per game, including 185.5 passing and 176.7 rushing. Acosta's offenses averaged more than 360 yards in three of his five seasons. Acosta also coached TCNJ's wide receivers in 2004 and 2005.

At Delaware, Acosta mentored the tight ends in 2007. He was part of a staff that helped develop eventual Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco and also served as the academic advisor for the team which played for the 2007 NCAA FCS national championship and was selected as the ECAC Team of the Year.

In 2008, Acosta completed a coaching internship with the New York Jets, and in 2010, he worked in preseason camp with the Cleveland Browns as part of a program mentoring and offering professional development to college coaches.

Acosta also served as the defensive backs coach at Rowan (1999-2001) and the head coach at both Monmouth Regional High School (2006) and Marlboro High School (2002-03).

A four-year letterwinner (1996-99) at Rowan University, Acosta played in the Stagg Bowl, the Division III National Championship game, in each of his four years at Rowan. He earned his degree in health and exercise science in 2000.